Apparatus for applying contoured elastic to a substrate

ABSTRACT

This invention is generally accomplished by providing continuous self-adhesive strands of elastic to a substrate having retractable supports extending therefrom. The retractable supports in a convex pattern are contracted with the self-adhering elastic and the substrate bearing the elastic and supports is brought into contact with the web to which the elastic is to be transferred. The series of supports around which the elastic contacts are forced to retract as the self-adhering elastic is pressed against the web causing the elastic to transfer to the substrate thereby creating an elastic band on the substrate. In a preferred form the substrate is fed two strips of self-adhering elastic that are applied on each side of a series of a convex pattern of pins and then pressed together around opposing sides of the convex pattern of pins to seal the elastic to itself and sever the elastic, creating a contoured closed loop around the pins.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for application ofself-adhering elastic material to a substrate. In particular, theinvention relates to the formation of disposable garments utilizingcontoured elastics.

BACKGROUND ART

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,123--Bunnelle et al., an extrudable self-adheringelastic is disclosed. It is disclosed therein that the material may beutilized to provide elasticity to disposable garments by stretching thematerial and applying it to a deformable substrate. This material hasbeen difficult to utilize in high-speed formation of diapers and otherdisposable garments as when it is stretched it will not adhere well topolymer substrates without pressure being applied to the material as itis applied to the substrate. Further, there has been no practical way ofapplying the material in contoured patterns such as circular patternsonto the deformable substrates. It is desirable that elastic becontoured for use in disposable garments such as diapers, face masks anddisposable hats.

It is known in the formation of disposable diapers that elastic may beapplied to the diaper to form elasticized areas at the legs and at thewaist. However, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,227,952--Sabee,4,050,462--Woon et al., and in 3,860,003--Buell, the placement ofelastics is ordinarily in straight lines. There has been proposed inU.S. Pat. No. 3,828,367--Bourgeois, a method of forming elastics ondisposable clothes by placing the elastic into grooves in a roller fromwhich it is applied to the garment.

There remains a need for a method and apparatus for applying curvedelastic easily to a continuous web. There also particularly is a needfor a method of accurately applying generally circular self-adheringelastic to substrates.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to overcome disadvantages of priorprocesses and apparatus.

It is another object of this invention to reliably place self-adheringelastic onto a substrate.

A further object of this invention is to provide more accurate placementof elastic on substrates.

Another object of this invention is to provide a continuous process forformation of curved and generally circular elastics.

These and other objects of the invention are generally accomplished byproviding continuous self-adhesive elastics to a substrate havingretractable supports such as a pattern of pins. The retractable supportsare placed in contact or looped with the self-adhering elastic, and thesubstrate bearing the elastic in contact with the supports is broughtinto contact with a web to which the elastic is to be transferred. Theseries of supports in contact with the elastic are forced to retract asthe self-adhering elastic is pressed against a web causing the elasticto transfer to the web, thereby creating an elasticized band on the web.

In a preferred form the substrate is fed in a straight line, two stripsof self-adhering elastic that are applied on each side of a series of agenerally convex polygonal pattern of pins and then pressed together andbonded at opposing sides of the patterned pins to seal the elastic toitself. The elastic is severed in the sealed area thereby creatingcontoured shapes around the pins as the elastic loops contract aroundthe pattern of pins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for applying elasticpatterns on a substrate and transferring them to a web.

FIG. 2 is a view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 from direction A--A of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing pin position at the time ofelastic transfer from the elastic to the web.

FIG. 4 is a schematic of an apparatus utilizing the retractable pinelastic applicator to form concentric loops of elastic.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pin drum applicator in the apparatusof FIG. 4.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views on cross section lines 7 and 8of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a top view of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a top view of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of apparatus for transferring loops ofself-adhering elastic utilizing male and female molds.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate the molds used for transfer of loops ofelastic material from an inflatable male mold the roll carrying a web.

FIG. 14 is a partial cross section illustration of transfer of elasticsfrom a rigid male mold to a flexible female mold bearing a web ofmaterial.

FIG. 15 illustrates transfer of elastic utilizing rigid male and femalemolds.

FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate apparatus for forming contoured shapedelastic utilizing movable posts to contour the elastic.

FIGS. 18-20 illustrate reciprocating apparatus for intermittentapplication of loops of elastic to a moving continuous web.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The method and apparatus of the invention has many advantages overprevious systems for elastic application particularly for self-adheringelastic. The system of the invention allows accurate registration of theelastic with the substrate. The invention allows the simple straightline feeding of elastic to result in convex polygonal shapes ofcontoured elastic on a substrate for transfer to a web. The inventionfurther provides positive pressure bonding of the self-adhering elasticto the web, thereby minimizing the chance of the elastic not bonding tothe web. The superior registration of the system of the invention allowsmore accurate sizing of products to be formed. These and otheradvantages will be apparent from the description below.

The apparatus 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 applies contoured self-adheringelastic in accordance with the invention. The elastic strips 12 and 14are fed to the apparatus in stretched condition. These strips 12 and 14are fed beneath rollers 16 and 18 that ride near the surface 22 of drum20. The surface 22 is provided with a release material such as siliconerubber. The rollers place the elastic 14 and 12 on the surface 22 of thedrum on each side of the pattern of retractable pins 24. As the drumrotates the elastic moves away from the applicator rolls 16 and 18 andbegins to wrap the circumference of the drum 20. The elastic is graspedand brought together by the clamp devices 26 and 28. One set of clampingdevices is ahead of each pattern while the other is behind the pattern.By ahead it is intended to mean the leading clamps based on direction ofmovement and behind are the following clamps based on direction ofmovement of the elastic. The major stretch of the self-adhering elasticis applied to the elastic prior to its being applied to the drum 20although the actions of clamps 26 and 28 may also provide additionalstretch. One of the clamping devices 26 and 28 also has a heated knifeto sever the strands in the bonded section after clamping, and thejoined strands spring around the pins 24 as loop or ring 30. The loop ofelastic 30 moves with rotation of the drum towards the web 12 carried bydrum 34. As the drum 20 rotates the clamping devices 28 and 26 areretracted so that they are outside of the area of contact of applicatordrum 20 with the web-carrying drum 34. As drum 20 contacts the web 32,the pins 24 are forced to retreat by the pressure of the nip formed bydrums 20 and 34, and the elastic is adhesively transferred by pressureat the nip to the web 32. The web 32 bearing the elastic loops 30 isthen drawn from drum 34 for transport to another area (not shown) forfurther forming into products.

The web 32 with the loops may be further formed by having the polygonalgenerally circular elasticized area cut from the web to form articlessuch as shower caps or operating-room caps. In another preferredembodiment the center portion 40 could be severed and removed, and asheet bearing the elasticized area formed into a garment with theelasticized area at the wrists, waist or legs.

FIG. 3 illustrates in cross section a transfer in accordance with theinvention. In FIG. 3 the appicator or pin drum 50 is formed with shell52 over which has been placed a silicone rubber or other release layer54. The pins 56 are mounted in a spring-loaded base 58. The base 58provides continuous outward pressure for the pins 56. As drum 50 isrotated it comes into close proximity to the receiving or forming drum60 bearing web 62. The gap between the drums is adjusted to providepressure to cause adhesion of the elastic to the web without unduedeformation of the elastic. Drum 60 bearing web 62 contacts pins 56causing them to retract. The pressure of the nip 66 causes theself-adhering elastic 64 to transfer to the web 62. As is apparent, thesystem allows exact placement of the elastic in the patterncorresponding to the outer edges of the pattern of pins 56. The drum 60may be provided with means to apply a vacuum beneath web 62 in order tocause it to adhere to drum 60.

Illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 is apparatus that may be used to form aweb with loops of elastic utilizing the retractable pin applicationdevice for elastic placement. The web has accurately placed dual loopsof elastic. The elasticized web formed by the device illustrated may beformed into an absorbent garment such as an incontinent garment ordiaper, such as disclosed in Ser. No. 690,351 filed Jan. 10, 1985 byHeran et al. entitled DISPOSABLE UNDERPANTS SUCH AS INFANT'S TRAININGPANTS AND THE LIKE, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,381, Ser. No. 690,349 filedJan. 10, 1985--Ales et al. entitled DISPOSABLE GARMENTS WITH MULTIPLESTRAND ELASTICIZED OPENINGS, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,819, or Ser. No.740,135 filed May 31, 1985 by Strohbeen et al. entitled DISPOSABLEUNDERPANTS HAVING DISCRETE OUTER SEALS, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,681. Theaccurate placement of multiple contoured elastic at garment openings hasadvantages in sealing against leakage, lessening of skin reddening, andimproving appearance of disposable garments.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the elasticized web-forming apparatus70 is composed of elastic application apparatus 72, a source of webmaterial 76, and pin application devices 78 and 80 for application oftwo rings of elastic. The web bearing loops of elastic to be formed intoa garment further may be provided with a facing 90. the apparatus of 92cuts the holes from within the elastic loops. The cut holes may beremoved by vacuum withdrawal (not shown). The product web then may befurther treated to form elasticized garments and other articles. Theabove-cited Ser. No. 740,135--Strohbeen et al. filed May 31, 1985, nowU.S. Pat. No. 4,610,681, hereby incorporated by reference, discloses amethod of sealing the side seals of a garment. As is apparent, a varietyof garments and elasticized products could be formed by the pinapplicator device of the invention that may be utilized to put contouredelastics on a variety of substrates.

The operation of the apparatus 70 will be described with reference toFIGS. 4, 5 and 6. The backing sheet for the garment is supplied fromsource 76 as sheet 100. Sheet 100 is fed to the forming drum 102.Forming drum 102 is preferably provided with a vacuum source such thatthe web 100 is securely adhered thereto by the vacuum being drawnthrough a series of holes in the outer surface 104 of the drum. Insteadof vacuum it is possible that the web would be held in place by needlespiercing the material at the edge or by a tenter frame. It is alsopossible that the web not be secured to the drum by vacuum but held inplace by winding tension and friction with the drum surface. The web 100adhered to drum 102 then passes beneath the first pin applicator roll 78to which is fed in a straight line two strips of stretched self-adheringelastic 106 and 108. These strips of elastic are applied to the rim 78below rollers 110 and 112 and are formed in rings around pins 114 bycutting and adhering devices 116 and 118. When the rings of elastic 120pass through the nip 122 the pins 114 are retracted, and the elastic 120is adhered to web 100. The web 100 bearing ring 120 is then moved asdrum 102 rotates beneath the second pin drum roll 80. In a similarmanner pin drum roll 80 applies two strips of self-adhering elastic 124and 126 to the drum 80 where it is applied around pins 128 with sealingtogether of the strips 124 and 126 by the nipping/cutting apparatus 130and 132. Rings of elastic 134 are formed which at nip 136 aretransferred to sheet 100. As illustrated, the rings 134 are somewhatlarger than the previously-formed ring 120 such that they form an outercircumferential ring around the earlier place ring 120. The rotation ofthe product-forming drum 102 then brings the web bearing the double ringof elastics 134 and 120 to the point of application of sheet 90 thatcovers the exposed self-adhering elastic so that the web may be handled.The composite then is formed as the sheet 90 is adhered to the exposedelastic adhesives by contoured pressure rollers 148 and 150.

The elasticized composite is removed by being drawn over roller 152 andbrought to the die cutters 192 composed of rolls 154 and 156. Thesecutting rolls remove the portion within eastic loops or bands 120 and134 to leave hole 158. The composite then may be cut into blanks forimmediate conversion to articles or may be rolled for later conversion.

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the pin application devices of 72. It isnoted that the rings of elastic 120 and 134 are precisely placed uponthe web 100. The ability to perform such exact placement is a particularadvantage of the system of the invention. The surface 170 of roller 80and surface 172 of roller 78 is provided with a release surface that isnot adherent to the self-adhesive elastics.

The surface of rollers 176, 178, 110 and 112 that apply theself-adhering elastic to drums 78 and 80 must be a release material forthe self-adhering elastic, such as a silicone rubber. Further, it isnoted that the bonding and cutting devices 130 and 132 must be retractedto the end portions 182 and 184 of their track prior to the pinapplicator drum being brought into contact with the garment-forming drum102 so that the nipper/cutters are not pressed against drum 102 anddamaged.

The devices for holding, fusing and cutting the self-adhering elasticsare illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, thebonding and cutting devices or cutter/nippers 190 and 192 are holdingthe elastic for bonding and cutting to form the separate rings. Theelastics 194 and 196 are gathered and brought together as devices 190and 192 move from edge positions 198 and 200. The cutters are moved bysuitable camming devices not shown. As shown in FIG. 9 from the topview, the cutting and fusing device 190 is composed of separate clampingsurfaces 202 and 204 that bear against surfaces 206 and 208 to bond theseparate ribbons 194 and 196 of self-adhering elastic together. Afterthe areas 202 and 206 and 204 and 208 are brought together, the knifeportion 210 passes through the elastic onto anvil 212 and cuts theelastic ribbons 194 and 196. The knife is spring loaded such that it isnot applied through the intersection between horns 202 and 204 untilthese have clamped the elastic under pressure. The nipper/cutter 190 and192 are then retracted so as to clear the forming drum 102 when theelastic transfer is made and to be in position for bringing together tostretch, bond and cut the strands of elastic that are next applied topins 128. When the nipper/cutters are separated after cutting, theelastic springs back to elastically grip the pins 128. FIGS. 8 and 10illustrate the nipper/cutter devices 190 and 192 in spread position withthe elastic being contracted around the pins 128 to form a continuousband 216. As the nipper/cutter devices 190 and 192 extend above thesurface 220 of the pin applicator roll 222, it is necessary that they bewithdrawn to the edges of the roll as shown in FIG. 10 when the roll isin position for transfer of the elastic from upon the pins to a web.

The surface of the pin applicator rolls 22 in FIG. 1 must be coveredwith a material that is not adherent to the self-adhering adhesive beingapplied to a web by the pin applicators. The release material typicallyis somewhat resilient when silicone rubber is used, but is not essentialthat the surface be both a release surface and resilient in order tofunction. This surface may be formed of any suitable release materialfor the elastic adhesive being used. Typical of such release materialsare fluorinated hydrocarbons, highly polished ceramics such as siliconecarbide, or metals treated with a release oil such as silicone oil. Apreferred material is a silicone rubber of 40 to 100 durometers hardnessand particularly preferred is the silicone rubber Silastic® J RTVavailable from Dow Corning Corporation having a durometer hardness ofabout 60. The silicone rubber is also preferred as the release surfacefor the delivery rolls that stretch the self-adherent elastic and applyit to the surface of the drum.

The pins, such as 24, also must have a surface that is nonadherent tothe self-adhering elastic. Typical of such surfaces are those listedabove for the applicator roll surface. A suitable surface has been foundto be a fluorinated hydrocarbon surface of tetrafluoroethylenecomposition. A most preferred surface is a silicone rubber of 40-100durometer hardness and of a composition as set forth above for theapplicator roll. Further, it is possible that the surface may, ifappropriate, have an oil either fed from within or added to the surfaceperiodically. Teflon is a preferred coating for the pins as it hasbetter abrasion-resistant properties. As the pins are periodicallypushed into the roll and extended out again abrasion resistant isdesirable as the pins may bear against the sides of holes through whichthey extend. Silicone is a preferred material as it has good releaseproperties from the self-adhering elastics.

The pins are arranged in any suitable configuration or pattern on theapplicator drum to result in the elastic being placed in the desiredcontour. The pins should be in convex pattern so that the stretchedelastic will assume the pattern formed by the pins. The pins themselvesmay extend any suitable distance from the applicator drum. They mustextend a suitable distance such that the elastic when it rebounds afterbeing cut does not flip over the top of the pins. A suitable distancefor extension of the pins generally is between about 1/4 and about 1/2inch. A preferred distance for extension has been found to be about 3/8inches. However, depending upon the size of the elastic band and thediameter of the loop being formed around the pins, the distance may bevaried to whatever is effective.

The invention has been described with retraction of spring loadedsupports when the applicator drum bearing the support contacts the web.However, it is possible that the pin retraction could be carried out bypositive mechanical means such as cams or solenoids in the drum. Thespring loaded supports are preferred because they are simple andreliable. If a drum with positive means to extend and withdraw pins wasused it would be possible to use one applicator roll to make differentproducts by selective extension and retraction of pins to form differentpolygonal patterns. Further, concentric loops could be formed byretracting the outer pattern of pins, forming the inner loops, thenextending pins of the outer pattern and forming the outer loops ofelastic around the outer pins. The concentric loops could then besimultaneously transferred.

The pins or supports may be any cross-sectional shape that results in asuitable product. It has been found that the pins are best of generallycircular cross section as these do not result in premature release ofthe elastic when the pins reach the nip.

FIGS. 11-22 illustrate alternative embodiments of the invention forapplication of self-adhering elastic in nonlinear shapes onto a websubstrate. In FIG. 11 the apparatus 230 is comprised of an applicatordrum 232 and a vacuum web-carrying drum 234. Application drum 232 isprovided with a series of male die blocks 236 having two surfaces 238and 240, generally perpendicular to the drum surface, around which theelastic is wrapped, by means not shown. Eastic 242 and 244 are appliedto the applicator roll 232 with elastic loop 242 being placed around thelower receiving area 240 and elastic loop 244 placed around the upperreceiving area 238. The applicator roll 323 is brought in to corotatingcontact with the vacuum receiving roll 234 at 246. The roll 234 isprovided a web material 248 that has been drawn thereto by vacuum. Themale molds 236 deflate and deform at nip 246 to effect transfer of theelastics 238 and 240 to the web 248 by pressure contact.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate the male mold 236 of roll 232. The molds maybe air inflated from a source of compressed air 252. The inflatable moldwill allow roll 232 to better conform to receiving roll 234, and allowthe inflation pressure to aid transfer of the elastics 242 and 244 tothe receiving web 248. It is also possible that a deformable orinflatable male mold could be brought into contact with a matchingfemale mold and transfer accomplished by deforming the male mold so thatthe elastic loops on the mold are brought into contact with a webadhered to a female mold carried on a vacuum roll. As illustrated inFIG. 11, the male mold 236 acts somewhat like a large single pin aroundwhich the elastic is wrapped.

FIG. 14 illustrates another alternate embodiment utilizing transfer ofelastic ribbons on a male mold. In FIG. 14 the male mold 260 is solidwhile the receiving mold 262 is flexible and may have air or hydraulicpressure 264 applied thereto. The web material 266 is pressed by theflexible mold 262 against the elastics 268 and 270. FIG. 16 is a furtheralternative embodiment utilizing male and female rolls. In FIG. 15 themale mold and female mold 282 are solid and have elastics 284 and 286applied thereto. The transfer of self-adhering elastic 284 and 286 tothe web 288 is affected by pressure contact of the mold numbers 282 and283.

FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate another embodiment of the invention utilizingretractable pins for shaping the self-adhering elastic. As isillustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17, the apparatus 290 is capable of applyingcontoured elastics 292 and 294 to a web of material 297. The elastics292 and 294 are brought to the forming roll 296 by straight line feedingof the elastic 292 around guide roll 298. The applicator roll 296 isprovided with a series of pins 300 fixed in location but retractableunder pressure into roll 296. The elastics 292 and 294 are brought intocontact with the convex arrangement of fixed location pins 300 bymovement of movable pins 302. Pins 302 move the elastic outward to theedge of roll 296 and thereby stretch it and bring it into contact withthe fixed location pins 300. Transfer to web 297 is effected while web297 has an open-downward fold 304 formed therein. The making of suchdownward folds prior to formation of elasticized garments is known inthe diaper formation process and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.4,227,952--Sabee. The downward-folded portion 304 in the formation ofdiapers is the part that forms the back and front of the diaper whilethe contoured elastic would form the leg elastic portions. The portionof elastic 310 spanning fold 304 is severed by cutting roll 312 to formthe contoured leg portions 314 and 316. When the fold 304 is opened theweb may be cut such as at phantom line 318 to form separate garmentswith elasticized legs. Further, the flap portion 320 within the elasticlegs may be cut out if desired, by means not known.

FIGS. 18-20 are a schematic illustration of another method and apparatusby which the retractable pin elastic applicator may be formed. Elasticapplicator device 330 is designed to provide intermittent application ofa strip of elastic to a web 332 passing below the applicator 330. Theapplicator is provided with an arm 334 that is movable up, to the leftand downward. The arm is provided with a retractable pin applicator 336having retractable pins 338. Stretched elastic placement device 340provides means for placing a loop of stretched elastic 342 around pins338. The elastic is moved by moving the applicator device 336 past theloop-forming means 340 to position shown in FIG. 19. The pin applicator336 is then brought into contact with the moving web 332 such that it ismoving at the same speed as the web 332 during the time of contact forpin retraction and transfer. The arm 334 is then raised and returned tothe starting position of FIG. 18 prior to being recycled through theloop formation and elastic application to the substrate steps of FIGS.19 and 20 in a reciprocating motion.

The self-adherent elastic may be formed of any elastic material that hasadherent properties. Further, as the term self-adherent is used thereinit also includes elastic materials that have been caused to beself-adherent by being coated with adhesive such as by dipping into anadhesive material. Further, the invention could be utilized as anequivalent process or apparatus with nonself-adhering elastics if thenonadherent elastics were being transferred to a surface covered withadhesive. Further it could be used to transfer decorative areas onto asubstrate by heating and fusing of ribbons of decorative material at theinterface of application to a substrate.

For use in the preferred process of the invention for application ofelastics to a garment, the self-adhering elastics such as disclosed inU.S. Pat. Nos. 4,418,123 and its parent application 4,259,220--Bunnelleet al., both incorporated herein, have been found to be particularlypreferred. This material is a block copolymer having glassy end blocksand amorphous midblocks. Further, the resin has a tackifying resinassociated with the midblock. There is also a resin associated with theglassy vinylarene end blocks such as low molecular weight, alpha-methylstyrene-vinyl toluene synthetic copolymers or coumaroneindenes. However,other self-adhering elastics could be utilized.

The self-adhering elastic strip may be any suitable cross section foruse in the invention. It is considered that strips in the shape ofribbons, ropes or more complex cross-sections may be utilized. It ispreferred that the cross-sectional aspect ratio be between about 1 to 1and 1 to 2 in order that the material not be deformed when forming thepatterned loop.

The web to which the elastic is adhered may be any suitable flexiblematerial that is adherable to the self-adherent elastic. The materialmay be a fabric or a liquid impermeable polypropylene film orpolyethylene polymer sheet such as used for diapers and incontinentgarments. The web also could be a paper or spunbonded fabric orcomposite of film and nonwoven fabric. The choice of the base materialis dependent upon the article to be formed.

The invention has been illustrated with formation of an elasticized web.The web may be used for forming an incontinent garment such as used fordiapers, training pants or incontinent adults, the method of applyingcontoured elastic could be used in any desired manner to form anydesired article including those such as catamenial devices. Theelasticized web could be used for forming elastic wrists for disposablegarments such as used for radiation protection. It could be used forforming elastic necks or anklets in such garments. Another use would beformation of caps such as used for shower caps or for sterile purposesin medical use or in manufacture of dust-free or sterile articles.Elasticized materials may be used in formation of covers for bowls.Further, elasticized tablecloths or openings for bags could be formed orgarments may be partially constructed on the vacuum drum carrying theweb by placing absorbent materials onto the web after the elastic loopshave been transferred to the drum. These and other uses will be apparentto one of ordinary skill in the art and are intended to be included bythe claims attached.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for bonding elastic to a substrate,comprising: self-adhering elastic, means to apply said loops in astretched condition around at least one support, means to bring saidsupport into contact with a web, means to cause relative movementbetween said support and said web and thereby bring said elastic intoadhering contact with said web.(A) at least one convex polygonal patternof supports, (B) means to form loops of self-adhering elastic andcomprising(i) means to feed two strands of stretched self-adheringelastic such that one strand is on each side of said pattern of supports(ii) means to bond the strands to each other ahead and behind saidpattern of supports (iii) means to sever the bonded strands in thebonded areas to form a loop of stretched self-adhering elastic aroundsaid pattern of supports (C) means to bring said pattern of supportsinto contact with a web, and (D) means to cause relative movementbetween said pattern of supports and the web to bring the loop ofstretched self-adhering elastic into adhering contact with the web. 2.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there is a plurality of means to formloops mounted on a rotating applicator drum.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2wherein there is provided a plurality of applicator drums.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 3 wherein said plurality of applicator drums applysaid elastic loops in concentric relationship on said web.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 4 wherein said web is adhered by vacuum means to arotating forming drum and the applicator drums are provided with meansto rotate them into contact with a rotating forming drum carrying saidweb.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said forming drum and saidapplicator drum form a nip, and said supports are withdrawn by thepressure applied to said supports by the narrowing of said nip.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 2 wherein said applicator drums are provided with asurface nonadherent to said self-adherent elastic.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein said supports comprise pins of generally circular crosssection.
 9. The apparatus of 1 wherein said support comprises adeformable mold.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said mold isinflatable.
 11. Apparatus for forming and applying a closed-loop ofelongate material to a substrate, comprising:a supporting surface, meansfor supplying two lengths of an elongated material to said supportingsurface, means for attaching the two lengths of elongate material into aclosed-loop on said supporting surface, means for delivering a substrateto said supporting surface, and means for releasing the closed-loop ofelongate material from said supporting surface onto the substrate. 12.The apparatus of claim 11wherein said attaching means attaches the firstand the second lengths of elongate material to each other on saidsupporting surface, and further comprises means for serving the firstand the second lengths of elongate material at their areas ofattachment, thereby forming a closed-loop of elongate material.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 12 further comprising a second supporting surface,andwherein said supply means supplies a third length of elongatematerial and a fourth length of elongate material to said secondsupporting surface, and further comprising a second attaching means forattaching the third and the fourth lengths of elongate material into asecond closed loop on said second supporting surface, and means forsevering the third and the fourth lengths of elongate material at theirareas of attachment, and second means for releasing the secondclosed-loop of elongate material from said second supporting surfaceonto the substrate.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13wherein one of saidattaching means forms its respective closed-loop of elongate materialwith a perimetrical length greater than the perimetrical length of theother closed-loop of elongate material, and wherein said secondreleasing means releases its second closed-loop of elongate materialonto the substrate such that the closed-loop of elongate material aregenerally concentrically disposed on the substrate.
 15. The apparatus ofclaim 11 wherein said supporting surface comprises a plurality ofretractable pin members.
 16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein saidsupporting surface comprises a deformable mold.
 17. The apparatus ofclaim 11 wherein said supporting surface is convexly shaped.